Published: Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 9:34 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 9:36 p.m.

COMMENTARY

In Sunday's edition, the sports department honors this area's top players who comprise The Gadsden Times' All-Etowah County and All-Area football teams for 2013.

Our coverage highlights the achievements of athletes from schools spread across five counties in our coverage area. Athletes in Northeast Alabama accomplished much on the field in 2013, evidenced by 13 of the 27 teams The Times covers in football having gained the postseason.

Some players, at some positions, were obvious choices while others required more analysis and more balloting to select.

The top individual player and coaching honors on the All-Etowah and All-Area teams required no vote-offs, and four of those six honorees were unanimous selections.

Overall, 13 players were repeat offenders on the All-Etowah team and five were second-timers on the All-Area team.

Four players — Glencoe running back Thomas Ozmint, Southside kicker Carter West, Sardis quarterback Will Scott and Westbrook Christian punter Tyler Lowrey — moved from honorable mention selections at their respective positions in 2012 on the All-Etowah team to first-team picks for 2013.

Southside's Hunter Armstrong was a first-team athlete in 2012 and first team linebacker this year.

Sardis offensive lineman Blaine Pruitt was a repeat first-teamer at his position, as was Glencoe's Mason Brown at linebacker.

Repeat offenders at honorable mention were Glencoe's Joseph Bright, kicker both years alongside West End's Chase Blanton and Etowah's Devin Horton, both at running back in 2012 and athlete for 2013.

Offensive MVP Trent Thrash of Fyffe and Defensive MVP Exavyer Jackson of Piedmont led the small group of athletes making the All-Area team in consecutive years.

Thrash was an honorable mention selection at linebacker in 2012, while Jackson was a repeat first-team selection on the defensive line. Fort Payne's Derek Watkins also repeated as a first-team defensive lineman and Sand Rock's Chandler Mackey was a first-team repeat pick at defensive back.

Piedmont's CJ Savage went from an honorable mention wide receiver in 2012 to a first-team pick.

Here's what the final numbers revealed: 127 athletes who excelled during the 2013 season were honored with first team or honorable mentions selections on our All-Etowah County and All-Area teams.

A great amount of time and thought went into covering the 2013 season, and we enjoyed every minute of it. We know all the area coaches and athletes spent countless hours making the 2013 season the best it could be for themselves, their teammates and for those who love watching or reading about the game of football.

For that, we thank you.

We believe the All-Etowah and All-Area teams we assembled are a good representation of the talent pool in this area and we hope you enjoy reading about the players and coaches one more time.

Times Sports Editor Kim Craft can be reached at kim.craft@gadsdentimes.com. Follow her on Twitter @GT_KimCraft.

<p class="bold allcaps">COMMENTARY</p>
<p>In Sunday's edition, the sports department honors this area's top players who comprise The Gadsden Times' All-Etowah County and All-Area football teams for 2013.</p><p>Our coverage highlights the achievements of athletes from schools spread across five counties in our coverage area. Athletes in Northeast Alabama accomplished much on the field in 2013, evidenced by 13 of the 27 teams The Times covers in football having gained the postseason.</p><p>Some players, at some positions, were obvious choices while others required more analysis and more balloting to select.</p><p>The top individual player and coaching honors on the All-Etowah and All-Area teams required no vote-offs, and four of those six honorees were unanimous selections. </p><p>Overall, 13 players were repeat offenders on the All-Etowah team and five were second-timers on the All-Area team.</p><p>Four players — Glencoe running back Thomas Ozmint, Southside kicker Carter West, Sardis quarterback Will Scott and Westbrook Christian punter Tyler Lowrey — moved from honorable mention selections at their respective positions in 2012 on the All-Etowah team to first-team picks for 2013. </p><p>Southside's Dantley Coker, the All-Etowah Offensive MVP for 2013, repeated as a first-team running back, while teammates Tyler Carr (OL) and Blake Devine (Ath.) also were first-team repeaters. </p><p>Southside's Hunter Armstrong was a first-team athlete in 2012 and first team linebacker this year.</p><p>Sardis offensive lineman Blaine Pruitt was a repeat first-teamer at his position, as was Glencoe's Mason Brown at linebacker.</p><p>Repeat offenders at honorable mention were Glencoe's Joseph Bright, kicker both years alongside West End's Chase Blanton and Etowah's Devin Horton, both at running back in 2012 and athlete for 2013. </p><p>Offensive MVP Trent Thrash of Fyffe and Defensive MVP Exavyer Jackson of Piedmont led the small group of athletes making the All-Area team in consecutive years.</p><p>Thrash was an honorable mention selection at linebacker in 2012, while Jackson was a repeat first-team selection on the defensive line. Fort Payne's Derek Watkins also repeated as a first-team defensive lineman and Sand Rock's Chandler Mackey was a first-team repeat pick at defensive back.</p><p>Piedmont's CJ Savage went from an honorable mention wide receiver in 2012 to a first-team pick.</p><p>Here's what the final numbers revealed: 127 athletes who excelled during the 2013 season were honored with first team or honorable mentions selections on our All-Etowah County and All-Area teams. </p><p>A great amount of time and thought went into covering the 2013 season, and we enjoyed every minute of it. We know all the area coaches and athletes spent countless hours making the 2013 season the best it could be for themselves, their teammates and for those who love watching or reading about the game of football. </p><p>For that, we thank you. </p><p>We believe the All-Etowah and All-Area teams we assembled are a good representation of the talent pool in this area and we hope you enjoy reading about the players and coaches one more time. </p><p></b>Times Sports Editor Kim Craft can be reached at kim.craft@gadsdentimes.com. Follow her on Twitter @GT_KimCraft.<b/></p>